how to print presentation with notes powerpoint

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How to Print PowerPoint with Notes (Step-by-Step)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• January 22, 2024

In this article, you’ll learn how to print your PowerPoint slides with speaker notes as handouts the way you want them.

Don’t get frustrated with PowerPoint… just get creative. That way you can get out of the office and make it to Happy Hour.

Just keep in mind that, like many things in PowerPoint, there is a variety of ways to print your notes, each producing its own result. I cover each method below.

NOTE:  If you are distributing your slides to other people, I highly recommend customizing your handouts with your company information before you print them. This not only makes your handouts look more professional, but it also makes it easier for people to get in touch with you.

For help turning your PowerPoint notes (without or without note text) into PDF handouts, read our guide here .

Table of Contents

How to print powerpoint with notes (basics).

The most common way to print PowerPoint notes is with the thumbnail image of the slide at the top of the page, and the notes directly beneath (as pictured above). To print your notes like this, simply:

• Hit Ctrl+P for Print (or click File then Print)
• Open the Print Layout options
• Select the Notes Page layout
• Click Print

If you want to print your notes only (without the thumbnail image), see further below.

As you can see in the live preview on the right in the picture above, I have already formatted the Notes Master to include my company’s logo, and my contact information.

If you have lots of speaker notes for a particular slide, the text may run off onto a second or third page. If this happens, keep in mind that your slide thumbnail only appears on the first page of notes.

Also keep in mind that the page number at the bottom of your handouts represents the slide number in your presentation, not the number of pages you are printing.

That means that if you have ten (10) pages of speaker notes for slide number 2 in your deck, each of those ten pages of speaker’s notes will have a number 2 on them.

To learn how to print multiple slides on one page in PowerPoint,  read our guide here .

NOTE: If you are distributing your notes as handouts before or after your presentation, I recommend customizing your Notes Master .

Take your PPT skills to the next level

Formatting the notes master for professional handouts.

To customize your notes page before you print it in PowerPoint first navigate to the Notes Master view.

• Click the View tab
• Select the Notes Master

The View tab in PowerPoint is also where you can find the Handout Master view (discussed further below), and the Slide Master view. These master views control the default formatting of your slides, handouts, and notes.

Once you are in the Notes Master view, you can select which placeholders you want to include in your handouts. In this view, you can also add any images, shapes, or other design elements to jazz up your handouts. I recommend adding things like:

• Your company logo
• Your email address (or contact information)
• Your company website

When it comes to formatting your handouts, more is not better. I recommend adding enough to make your handouts look professional and make it easy for people to contact you.

Printing PowerPoint Notes with multiple slides per page

To print your PowerPoint notes as handouts with multiple slides per page, you need to first export your PowerPoint slides to Microsoft Word using the Create Handouts command.

To convert PowerPoint to Word using the Create Handouts command, simply:

• Click the File tab
• Select Export
• Select  Create Handouts
• Click the Create Handouts command
• Select Notes next to slides

Doing so turns your PowerPoint presentation into a Word document, with all your slides and speaker notes in a table format that you can then update and edit in Microsoft Word. The length of your notes affects how many slides you can have on a single page in Word.

Table of Contents:  If you have a lot of slides you are converting into a Word document, you can make your Word document easier to read and navigate by inserting a table of contents. To learn how to make a table of contents in Word,  read our guide here .

How to print PowerPoint notes only

Yes, you can print just your PowerPoint notes (no slide thumbnail images) without messing up your presentation. I don’t recommend deleting things on your Notes Master, simply follow the steps listed below.

To see how to pull this off using a combination of the Create Handouts command and the Outline View in PowerPoint, see the short PowerPoint video tutorial below (it will make the most sense that way).

1. Push your PowerPoint slides to Microsoft Word

The first step is to push your slides and speaker notes into Microsoft Word. To do that, follow these steps:

• From within PowerPoint open the  File menu
• Click  Export on the left
• Select  Create Handouts  in the middle
• Click  Create Handouts on the right
• Select  Notes next to slides

PowerPoint then exports all your slides and speaker notes to Word in a table format. To make it easier to edit our table, let’s add borders to it.

2. Add table borders to your table to see what you are working with

Once PowerPoint finishes exporting your slides to Microsoft Word, I recommend adding table borders to see what you are working with. To do that, simply:

• Select the table in Word
• Click the Table Design tab
• Choose a table border style

While this is an optional step, it makes formatting your notes in Word a lot easier.

3. Format your PowerPoint notes in Word

As a last step, you simply need to make the formatting adjustments you want to your notes. These can include:

• Delete the thumbnail image column
• Resize the column widths
• Paste your slide title names in from the Outline View in PowerPoint
• Customize your handouts with your contact information
• Continue formatting in order to get your desired result

How to print PowerPoint with comments

Assuming you have comments in your presentation, you can print those in either the Handout view or the Outline view.

To print your PowerPoint slides with comments:

• Hit Ctrl+P for print
• Open the  Slide Layout options
• Choose how many slides you want per page (I recommend 6 or 9 so you don’t waste paper)
• Select  Print Comments
• Click  Print

It’s important to note that PowerPoint comments always print on the second page. Your first page will be the handouts themselves (with the comments marked on the slide). The second will be the actual comments.

As this tends to waste a lot of printer paper and ink, I recommend using the 9-slide layout unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise.

How to print PowerPoint with lines for notes

There are two different ways to print your slides as Handouts with lines for notes:

The easy way: This involves directly printing your slides from PowerPoint with the default blank lines for taking notes.

The customizable way:  This involves converting your PowerPoint slides to Word, where you can then adjust and customize the lines for your notes.

Both options are covered below.

1. The easy way

To print your slides with  non-customizable  lines for notes (in PowerPoint):

• From within PowerPoint, hit  Ctrl+P for print
• Open the  Slide Layout  options
• Choose the 3-slide layout  with lines (you’ll see a live preview on the right)

NOTE:  You can customize this layout using the PowerPoint Handout Master the way I  described above .

2. The customizable way

To print your slides with  customizable blank lines for notes (Converting PowerPoint to Word):

• Navigate to the  File tab
• Click  Export
• Click on the  Create Handouts  button
• Select either Blank lines next to slides  or Blank lines below slides  (depending on what you want)

Once your slides export to Microsoft Word, you can do whatever you want with the lines. For example, you can decrease the paragraph spacing to add more lines if you like. You can also format them and make them bold.

To expand your knowledge and learn more about exporting your PowerPoint slides to Microsoft Word (and the different options you have),  read our guide here .

Printing an outline of PowerPoint

Before you get too excited about printing your PowerPoint outline, it’s important to note that only information that is within your content placeholders prints. That means that text inside regular shapes and text boxes doesn’t appear.

On top of that, an outline can only print text. That means that none of your graphics, charts or pictures show up in your printed document.

There are two different ways to print your outline: You can directly print your outline out of PowerPoint, or you can export your outline to Microsoft Word so that you can edit it before you print it. Choose the option below that works best for you.

1. Directly printing your outline from PowerPoint

To print your PowerPoint slides as an outline only outline, simply:

• Hit Ctrl+P on to open the print options
• Open the Slide Layout options
• Select Outline

Note: If you don’t see all the content in your outline (you only see the slide titles, for example) that means that your Outline View is collapsed.

To expand your Outline View, simply:

• Navigate to the View tab
• Click on the Outline View

Within the Outline View (click into that actual Outline View on the left), hit the expand keyboard shortcut: Alt+Shift+9 . To learn more about working in the Outline view in PowerPoint, read our guide here .

2. Exporting an editable version of your Outline to Microsoft Word

If you want to customize your PowerPoint outline in Microsoft Word before you print it, simply:

• Click on the  Create Handouts button
• Select Outline only

Pushing your outline into Microsoft Word like this allows you to customize and edit the outline before you print it.

So those are all the different ways you can print your notes in PowerPoint.

If you intend to print your notes as handouts for a business meeting or client presentation, I highly recommend formatting your Notes Master and/or Handout Master.

That way you can include your contact information and/or your company formatting, making your handouts look more professional.

If you enjoyed this in-depth PowerPoint tutorial, you can learn more about our online training courses and other presentation resources  here .

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This Post Has 2 Comments

Thank you for this useful guide! Is there a way to print the outline with the notes per slide, too?

Hi Juliah and thanks for the question. Unfortunately not. The notes are tied to the slides and not the outline, so there’s no way that we know of to print the outline + notes together.

Comments are closed.

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How to print a PowerPoint presentation with notes

PowerPoint makes it easy to give a great presentation thanks to intuitive software that lets anyone craft an eye-catching deck. What's even better, however, is the option to use Presenter View. This lets you leave notes for yourself that can be viewed on your computer screen while everyone else is only seeing your presentation.

Print PowerPoint slides with notes on Windows

Print powerpoint slides with notes on mac, print powerpoint slides with notes on the web, what you need.

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However, if you're worried about a technical hiccup taking down your slide or don’t want to be glued to the computer, you'll probably want to print out your PowerPoint presentation with notes. This lets you see both your slides and your presenter notes, giving you an analog way to carry on the presentation without the need for a monitor.

Interested in the feature? Here's how to print a PowerPoint presentation with notes on Windows, Mac, or directly from the web.

Printing your presentation in PowerPoint on Windows takes only a few steps. If you want notes with your slides, it’s a simple setting.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint to the presentation you want to print.

Step 2: Select the File tab.

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Step 3: Choose Print and select your printer in the Printer drop-down if necessary.

Step 4: In the first drop-down box below Settings , pick which slides you want to print. You can print them all, the current slide, or a custom range.

Step 5: Click the next drop-down box for Print layout and select Notes page . You’ll see a preview on the right.

Step 6: Adjust any other settings you’d like before printing, such as switching Portrait orientation to Landscape orientation or Color to Grayscale .

Step 7: Click Print .

If you use Microsoft PowerPoint on Mac, you can print your slides with notes a just a few steps, like on Windows.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint on your Mac to the presentation you’d like to print.

Step 2: Click File > Print from the menu bar.

Step 3: In the pop-up window, choose your printer in the Printer drop-down box at the top if necessary.

Step 4: Choose which slides you’d like to print. You can print all slides, specific numbers, selected slides, or a custom range.

Step 5: Click the Layout drop-down box and choose Notes . You’ll see a preview on the left.

Step 6: Optionally, adjust any other settings you’d like such as Orientation , Output , or Scale .

Maybe you’re using PowerPoint on the web and prefer to print from there.

Step 1: Visit PowerPoint on the web , sign in, and open your presentation.

Step 3: Choose Print and pick Print notes pages .

Step 4: In the small pop-up window, select Open PDF to view your presentation file.

Step 5: Depending on your web browser, click the Print button or download the file to print on your computer.

For additional PowerPoint features , check out Microsoft’s implementation of real-time closed captioning .

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How to Print a PowerPoint Presentation with Notes

Print PowerPoint Presentations with Speaker Notes

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated May 30, 2022

Applies to: Microsoft ®  PowerPoint ® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can print PowerPoint presentations with notes with or without slide thumbnails. You can control the way notes or speaker notes are printed in three ways – by editing the Notes Master which affects all slides, by editing single notes pages in Notes Page view or by changing formatting in the Notes pane in Normal View.

In Notes Master View, you can control the position and formatting of all notes pages and add or edit headers, footers, dates, page numbers and even company logos. In Notes Page View, you can control the position and formatting of single notes pages and you can also add other objects such as shapes, pictures, tables, charts and SmartArt. You can't draw shapes or insert pictures in the Notes pane in Normal View but you can draw shapes or add pictures in Notes Page View. Pictures and other objects that you add in Notes Page View appear on printed notes pages but not in Normal View.

Recommended article: How to Export PowerPoint Speaker Notes to Microsoft Word

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Formatting changes made in different views in PowerPoint will appear in the preview area when you click the File tab in the Ribbon, select Print and then choose the option to print Notes Pages.

To move between different views, use the View tab in the Ribbon as shown below:

Print a PowerPoint presentation with notes and slide thumbnails

To print a PowerPoint presentation with notes and slide thumbnails (one per page):

• Click the File tab in the Ribbon and then click Print.
• Under Settings, click the arrow next to Full Page Slides and then in the Print Layout area, click Notes Pages. The preview on the right will display the current notes page. If you've inserted headers, footers, page numbers and a company logo, they will display in the preview. Formatting and any objects you've added in Notes Page view will also appear.
• To specify the page orientation, click the arrow next to Portrait Orientation and then click Portrait Orientation or Landscape Orientation.
• If you want to print your notes and slide thumbnails in color, select a color printer, click the arrow next to Color and then click Color.
• Select any other options you'd like in the Settings area.
• Click Print.

Below are the PowerPoint Print settings:

Print a PowerPoint presentation with notes but without slide thumbnails (notes only)

If you want to print the presentation without the default slide thumbnails, you will need to delete the thumbnail for each slide in its Notes Page. Before proceeding, you may want to make a copy of your presentation and work in the copy.

To print a PowerPoint presentation with notes but without slide thumbnails:

• In Normal View, display the slide with the thumbnail you want to delete.
• Click the View tab in the Ribbon and in the Presentation Views group, click Notes Page.
• To delete the slide thumbnail on the notes page, click the slide thumbnail and then press Delete.
• Repeat for each slide.

Resize the notes area of a single notes page

A default notes page consists of a slide thumbnail on the top half of the page and a section of the same size for notes on the bottom of the page. If you'd like to increase the space for your notes, you can resize these areas.

To increase the space for notes for a single notes page:

• In Normal View, display the slide to which you want to increase the space for notes.
• If you want to increase or decrease the size of the slide thumbnail or notes placeholder on the notes page, drag a sizing handle on the slide thumbnail or notes placeholder in the same way that you would resize other PowerPoint objects. Use a corner handle when resizing the slide thumbnail so you do not distort it. You do not need to use a corner sizing handle for the notes placeholder.
• If you need to move the slide thumbnail or notes placeholder, click the border (not a handle) of the thumbnail or placeholder and drag or press the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• If you want to delete the slide thumbnail on the notes page, click the slide thumbnail and then press Delete.

Below is a default notes page in Notes Page View:

Add objects on a single notes page

You can add objects on a single notes page (which will print but will not appear in Normal View).

To add an object on a single notes page:

• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon and add the desired shape, picture, table, chart or SmartArt.
• Resize and format the object as necessary.
• Move the object to the desired location.

Resize the notes area of all notes pages

You can also resize the notes area of all notes page using the Notes Master:

• Click the View tab in the Ribbon and in the Master Views group, click Notes Master.

Do not delete the slide thumbnail in the Notes Master View as it has no effect and will still preview.

Below is the default notes page in Notes Master View:

Change font size for all notes pages

You can change font size in the Notes Pages View or in the Notes pane in Normal View. However, to change the font size for the notes for all notes pages:

• Select the desired level in the notes outline and change the font size. You can change the font size using the font size menu in the Home tab in the Ribbon or by right-clicking and selecting a font size in the mini toolbar that appears.

It's best to change the font by changing the font theme through the Design tab in the Ribbon (this is hidden in the Variants drop-down gallery in 2013 and later versions of PowerPoint). If you change the font theme, this will affect the entire presentation (both slides and notes) and is best set when you first create your presentation. Otherwise, users may manually apply fonts on each slide which would override the theme.

Print a logo on all notes pages

To add an object such as a logo to all the notes pages in your presentation (and print it), you will need to edit the Notes Master:

• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon and click Picture(s).
• Navigate to the folder with the picture / logo you want to insert and double-click it.
• Resize the picture by dragging its handles.
• Position the picture by dragging it (usually by its middle area).

It's best not to delete placeholders (such as header and footer) to accommodate the logo. Instead, move the placeholders to an alternate location.

Print headers and footers on all notes pages

As long as placeholders appear in the Notes Master, you can insert slide numbers, a date and text using the Header & Footer command.

To print headers and footers on all notes pages (assuming you want to print notes only):

• Click the View tab in the Ribbon and click Notes Master in the Master Views group. Note the placeholders in this view. If necessary, move the placeholders to alternate locations by dragging their borders. It's best not to delete header, footer, date or page number placeholders.
• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon and click Header & Footer in the Text group. A dialog box appears.
• If necessary, click the Notes and Handouts tab in the dialog box.
• Ensure the check box for Page number is checked. You can also check Header, Footer and Date if required. If you check Header and / or Footer, enter text you want to appear in the header or footer text boxes. This could include your company name, your name, your contact information and / or the name of the presentation.
• Click Apply to All.

Below is the Header & Footer dialog box:

You can also print PowerPoint speaker notes in a Microsoft Word document. If you'd like to explore this option, check out the article How to Export PowerPoint Speaker Notes to Microsoft Word .

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More resources

How to Add and Format Notes in PowerPoint

How to Export PowerPoint Speaker Notes to Microsoft Word

How to Hide and Unhide Slides in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

How to Quickly Remove All Speaker Notes in PowerPoint (PC or Mac)

3 Ways to Change the Font on All Slides in a PowerPoint Presentation

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How to print PowerPoint notes

Crafting an impactful PowerPoint slideshow and delivering a captivating presentation are distinct skills. The first focuses on designing appealing visuals to convey a clear message, while the second involves employing effective presentation techniques to ensure the audience grasps the idea. 

The content of this article will help you with the latter part of this process, guiding future presenters on  how to print PowerPoint with speaker notes to enhance your presentations success and effectiveness .

What are notes in PowerPoint?

How to print powerpoint with speaker notes.

The information included in the notes section of a PowerPoint is meant for the presenter's eyes only. While the slides themselves display all the visuals and text required to build a compelling visual experience for the audience, notes often contain crucial details the presenter should keep in mind during their talk.

In PowerPoint, you’ll find the notes section right beneath each slide. Just click on “Notes” along the taskbar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window to get started.  This article provides you a step-by-step guide to learn how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint.

During presentations, some may prefer to use Speaker Notes so they can see their notes on a second screen. However, if you’re more comfortable holding your notes or if a second screen isn't available, printing your notes is a fantastic alternative.

Printing your PowerPoint slides along with the speaker notes attached to each is straightforward, though the steps can vary slightly whether you're using Windows, Mac, or Word. Let’s explore each one of these processes.

How to print slides with notes on Windows

Printing slides with notes on Windows involve a few simple steps:

• Open the presentation with your speaker notes.
• Go to “File” in the top left corner.
• Choose “Print” from the sidebar menu.
• Specify the number of copies in the “Copies” field.
• Select the printer you want to use in the “Printer” field.
• For extra printing settings, click on “Printer Properties”.
• Underneath “Settings”, select “Full Page Slides” to open the dropdown menu.
• Choose“Notes Pages”.
• Hit “Print” to start printing your slides with notes.

How to print a PowerPoint with notes on Mac

Printing notes from your Apple device is not rocket science. Here’s how to print PowerPoint with lines notes on Mac:

• Open your presentation with speaker notes.
• Click “File” in the top left corner.
• Select“Print”.
• Choose your printer under “Printer”.
• Go to “Show Details” at the bottom of the Print window.
• From the “Layout” menu, select “Notes”.
• Finally, click “Print” to obtain your PowerPoint slides with notes.

How to print a PowerPoint using Word

If you want to print notes in PowerPoint by using Word, here’s how to do it if you’re working on a PC:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation that includes your speaker notes.
• Go to “File”.
• Choose “Export”.
• From the Export panel, select “Create Handouts”.
• A “Send to Microsoft Word” dialog box will pop up. Here, you can pick either “Notes Next to Slides” or “Notes Below Slides”.
• Click the “Paste” option from the same dialog box.
• Click “OK”.
• Word will automatically open the document for you. Once open, go to “File”.
• Select “Print”.
• Adjust the printing settings as needed.
• Finally, hit “Print” to get your document with notes ready.

Everyone has their unique style when it comes to giving presentations. Having your speaker notes printed out is an awesome technique to keep track of the key messages you’d like to convey. You can even hand out to your audience these prints afterward so they can get further insight on your topic.

No matter which operating system you’re using, printing PowerPoint speaker notes is a pretty straightforward process. The important thing is to continually seek out new methods to elevate your presentation skills and find more dynamic and engaging ways to communicate with your audience.

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How to print a PowerPoint presentation with notes to keep you organized and help your audience follow along

• It's easy to print a PowerPoint presentation with notes so that you can reference talking points or so that your audience can follow every detail. 
• To print a PowerPoint slide presentation with notes, all you have to do is change the print settings to include presentation notes. 
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories .

PowerPoint , the presentation program from Microsoft , offers a plethora of features that can help you make the best presentation possible. One of these features is the ability to print your PowerPoint presentations with speaker notes.

This feature could be incredibly useful in business settings, especially if you are giving a very detailed presentation and you want to give your audience the ability to follow along easily. 

It can also be useful to help you rehearse your presentation, or keep you organized when you're giving it.

It's simple to print your PowerPoint slides with notes. All you have to do is change one setting in the "Print" menu. It's a little different if you use a Mac instead of a PC , but the two processes are very similar. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Microsoft office (from $149.99 at best buy), apple macbook pro (from $1,299.00 at apple), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart), how to print powerpoint with notes on a pc.

1. With PowerPoint open on your PC, click "File" in the top left corner.

2. In the sidebar of the "File" menu, click "Print."

3. On the "Print" menu, under "Settings", click the dropdown menu that allows you to choose how to print the slides. Click "Full Page Slides," which will reveal a dropdown menu.

4. From the dropdown menu, select "Notes Pages."

5. Then, select "Print." 

How to print PowerPoint with notes on a Mac

1. With PowerPoint open on your Mac, click "File" in the top left corner.

2. In the pop-up print menu, click "Show Details."

3. In the "Layout" box, click "Notes" to add the presentation notes.

4. Make sure all your other settings are configured as you want them.

5. Then, select "Print."

Related coverage from  Tech Reference :

How to change and format the background of your powerpoint slides to custom designs, how to convert a powerpoint to google slides in two different ways, how to make a powerpoint presentation into a video, so that it plays automatically without you having to click through each slide, how to add music to a powerpoint slideshow to make your presentation more engaging, how to download and access microsoft powerpoint on your mac computer.

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Watch: Meet the former advertising creative who has built a career out of writing positive post-it notes to strangers around London

• Main content

How to print a PowerPoint with notes.

Want to turn your presentation into handouts without losing any important information? Learn how to print a PowerPoint with notes in a few easy steps.

PowerPoints are great for presentations, but they don’t always make the best handouts — especially if you have important notes you don’t want to lose. To keep your slides short and effective, sometimes it’s best to have additional information to guide your presentation in notes that you can print. Luckily, it’s easy to print your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with all your notes intact.

How does it work when I print a PowerPoint with notes?

When printing a PowerPoint, you can select different print layouts and handout options depending on your needs. When you follow the steps to print speaker notes, the program will automatically assign one slide per page with the corresponding notes below the slide. This format makes it easy to understand connections between your notes and the slides and refer to the right material.

Options for how to print notes in PowerPoint.

There are several different methods for printing notes in PowerPoint. This guide will cover how to print your PowerPoint notes on Windows and Mac devices. We’ll also go over how to use Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat for your PowerPoint needs.

How to print slides with notes on Windows.

Follow these steps to print notes with your PowerPoint on a Windows device:

• Open your slide deck in PowerPoint.
• Select File > Print or press Ctrl+P.
• Under Settings, select Notes Pages under Print Layout.
• Adjust other settings as needed.
• Click Print.

How to print a PowerPoint with notes on Mac.

Follow these steps to print your PowerPoint notes on a Mac:

• Select File > Print or press Command+P.
• Click the Show Details button at the bottom of the dialog box.
• Under PowerPoint > Layout, check the Notes option.

How to print notes from PowerPoint in Word on Windows.

If you need to print your notes with multiple slides per page, you might find it helpful to convert your PowerPoint to a Word document first. To print notes from PowerPoint in Word on Windows, follow these quick steps:

• Select File > Export.
• Click Create Handouts.
• Select the option labeled “Notes next to slides” under “Page layout in Microsoft Word.”
• Click OK to export your slide deck as a Word document with the slides and speaker notes in a table format.
• Open the file in Word.
• Select File > Print.

How to save a PowerPoint with notes as a PDF.

If you need to create a PDF of your presentation, you can save a PowerPoint with notes to open with a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat . Follow these instructions:

• Click Show Details.
• Select PDF and Save as PDF. You can now open the file using a PDF editor like Acrobat to access your PowerPoint with notes.

Another easy way to convert a PowerPoint to PDF is with an online PDF editor like the one in Adobe Acrobat online services. Just follow these easy steps:

• Visit the PDF editor website.
• Upload your PowerPoint file by dragging and dropping it or clicking the button labeled “Select a file.”
• Let the software do its magic.
• Download your new PDF.
• You can add your PowerPoint notes to the PDF manually with annotation and markup tools.

All your beautiful slides will look just as they do in the presentation, except they'll be in a share-friendly PDF . You can send them to any device without worrying about formatting issues.

Tips for printing notes in PowerPoint.

Printing notes in PowerPoint doesn’t have to be a hassle. Follow these tips to make printing your speaker notes a snap:

• No matter your device or preferred platform, your PowerPoint should print with all your notes attached as long as you highlight the Notes option in the printer settings.
• Don’t forget to proofread your notes before printing them out to catch any typos or topics that need to be tweaked.
• If you need to print your notes without the slides, try exporting your slide deck as a Word document and deleting the slides from the table format.

More resources to work with your documents.

After you learn how to print a PowerPoint with notes, you may find these other resources to work with slides helpful:

• Learn how to save a PowerPoint with notes as a PDF .
• Learn how to convert Google Slides to PowerPoint .
• Discover three ways to insert a PDF into PowerPoint presentations .
• Learn how to save a PowerPoint slide as an image for sharing .

Discover what more you can do with Acrobat online services to convert your PowerPoint presentations into any format for maximum shareability.

• By Illiya Vjestica
• - February 13, 2020

3 Easy Ways To Print Your PowerPoint Presentation Notes

Here are three simple ways to print your PowerPoint presentation notes. Let’s begin.

We’re often taught that you should never turn your back to an audience when presenting, and that is why using presentation notes can be important for the audience. Reading straight off your slides is also considered a big no-no. But what if there was a way to keep track of your talk without glancing over at your presentation for a quick reminder of what comes next?

Thankfully there is.

Adding presentation notes to your PowerPoint slides is a great solution. It allows you to keep the vital information on the screen – ensuring your slides aren’t stuffed full of text – while the more in-depth information is available off-screen for you to follow.

Having your notes in this format can help you to deliver a more streamlined, in-depth and impactful presentation – particularly if you have them printed off and to hand. This way they’ll serve as a sort of script that you can follow to ensure that all the key information from your talk is shared effectively while acting as a useful way for you to communicate ideas that might not feature on your slides.

You can also share them with your audience if necessary in the form of a brochure or handout, which is a big plus when it comes to increasing retention rates. This is especially beneficial for more technical presentations or for those which require your audience to remember a lot of information.

Let’s take a look at how to print off your PowerPoint presentation with notes.

1. How to print your PowerPoint with Notes

Let’s start with the simplest option, shall we? If you choose to print your PowerPoint notes in the standard manner, you’ll end up with pages of notes accompanied by the thumbnails of the slides they correspond to, helping you to deliver your speech clearly and easily.

There are some things to bear in mind, though. If you have lots of notes for a particular slide that cover several pages, for instance, the slide thumbnail they correspond to will only appear on the first page. Make sure you’re organised, then, and try to keep your notes as concise as possible to avoid getting lost.

That being said – if short and snappy notes aren’t possible for your talk – there is a little trick you can use. Check out the page number at the bottom of each page. These actually match up to the slide number in your presentation – not the number of pages you are printing – so serve as a useful reference point to help you keep track of where you are.

Here’s how to print out your PowerPoint presentation notes as standard:

• Either go to File > Print to open up your PowerPoint print options, or press CTRL + P
• Go to Settings > Print Layout
• Select the Notes Page Print Layout and click Print

2. How to create PowerPoint notes and print them with Notes Master

Notes Master helps you to customise your presentation even more, and you may find it to be a simpler option when it comes to creating notes that are in-line with your slides. Here are some quick instructions on how to use the tool and to print your PowerPoint presentation notes out afterwards:

1. Select ‘Normal View’ for your PowerPoint

2. Select the ‘View tab’, then select ‘Notes Master’

3. Format the ‘Notes Master’ as you would a PowerPoint slide – this will be self-explanatory

4. Close the ‘Master View’ when you are finished editing the ‘Notes Master’

4. Click ‘Print’ to take you to the ‘Print Options’ page

5. Click ‘Settings’, then open the ‘Print Layout’ options

6. Select the ‘Notes Page’ Print Layout and ‘Print’

3. How to print PowerPoint presentation notes as a customised handout

It’s entirely possible to print your PowerPoint presentation notes as a handout for your audience with accompanying thumbnail image of each slide. Your audience can have all your notes with handy slide numbers so they know where they are in the presentation. Here’s how you can pull this off:

1. Select ‘File Menu’ from the PowerPoint menu

2. Select ‘Export’

3. Click ‘Create Handouts’

4. Click Notes next to slide (this will push all your PowerPoint presentation notes into Microsoft Word)

5. Click Select ‘Table Design’ from the Word menu

6. Select the Design tab from the Word menu

7. Customise the handout design to your own liking and feel, changing the colours and typography.

8. Go to ‘File’ then ‘Print Options’ select ‘Print’ you can choose whether you would like your notes either ‘Landscape’ or Portrait’

Microsoft have also put together further instructions if you want to style and customise your presentation handouts in PowerPoint.

A noteworthy presentation

So there you have it. In our opinion, these are the best ways to print out your PowerPoint presentation notes for a clear, effective and engaging talk.

If you need any help with planning your presentations in the future or want to find out more about what we can do, contact us here .

Illiya Vjestica

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Unfortunately the export to Word function doesn’t appear to work on the MAC version of PowerPoint which is a shame as you can export as a pdf or rich text, but not MS Word. Unless there is another way?

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How to Print PowerPoint Slides With Notes

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What to Know

• With slide thumbnails: Go to File > Print > Settings > Full Page Slides > Print Layout > Notes Pages . Select a printer and print.
• Without thumbnails: Go to  View  >  Notes Page  to open each slide in Notes Page view. Delete the slide thumbnail from each notes page.
• Then, select File > Print and choose a printer. Next to  Full Page Slides , select the arrow. Under Print Layout , select Notes Pages > Print .

This article explains how to print your speaker notes along with your presentation slides in Microsoft PowerPoint. Information covers PowerPoint 2019 through 2013, PowerPoint for Mac, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.

How to Print Speaker Notes in PowerPoint for PC

Printing your speaker notes is a straightforward process, whether or not you include thumbnail images of your slides.

Print Notes With Slide Thumbnails

Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Select File , then select Print .

Under  Settings , next to  Full Page Slides , select the down arrow.

Under  Print Layout , select  Notes Pages .

Choose a printer and the number of copies you want.

Select Print.

Print Speaker Notes Without Slide Thumbnails

This process requires manually removing the slide thumbnails from notes pages.

Select  View  >  Notes Page  to open each slide in Notes Page view.

Delete the slide thumbnail from each of the notes pages. Select each notes page, then select the slide thumbnail, and then select Delete .

This action doesn't delete the slides from your presentation; it just deletes the slide thumbnails from your notes pages.

Select  File  >  Print .

Under  Printer , choose the printer you want.

Select Print .

Export Speaker Notes to Print in Word

Alternatively, you can export your speaker notes from PowerPoint and print them in Microsoft Word.

Open your presentation.

Select File > Export .

On the  Export  panel, select  Create Handouts .

On the  Create handouts in Word  panel, select  Create Handouts . The Send to Microsoft Word dialog box appears.

Select a layout option, either Notes next to slides or Notes below slides .

Select the  Paste  option at the bottom of the dialog box, and then select  OK . Your speaker notes have been exported to Word.

Print Slides With Speaker Notes on a Mac

When using PowerPoint for Mac, the process is a little different.

Open the File menu and select Print .

In the Print dialog box, select Show Details .

In the Layout Box , select Notes .

Add your other printing options, and then select Print .

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Blog > All about notes in PowerPoint Presentations

All about notes in PowerPoint Presentations

08.06.21   •  #powerpoint #tips.

Not only is a well-prepared PowerPoint presentation essential, but also a red thread and a fluent presentation. With the help of notes in PowerPoint, this is no longer a problem! In this blog post, we will not only explain how you can add powerpoint notes, but also how you can edit them and make good use of them during a presentation. We will also show you how to print out the notes and how to delete them again.

Inserting and editing notes in PowerPoint

• First open your presentation.

There are two ways you can print out the notes. With the slides or without.

Print notes with the slides

Print notes without the slides

Using notes during a presentation.

If you want to share your PowerPoint on Zoom without showing the audience your notes, there are several options. A very simple and straightforward option would be to simply print out your notes. If you have two monitors, PowerPoint will automatically set up the Presenter View for you. If you do not have a second screen, you only have to go to the three dots at the very bottom left during the presentation, there you can easily display the speaker view under "Speaker view".

Now, turn the tables! - Let your attendees take private notes

With the help of SlideLizard (a cool software for live audience interaction in PowerPoint), your participants can make private notes directly on their own smartphones during the presentation. These notes remain linked to the slides and at the end of the presentation, all participants receive their own notes via email. In addition, your audience can mark the most important slides with a star to make them easier to find again later. Moreover, with SlideLizard you can add live polls & quizzes directly in your PowerPoint. You can try SlideLizard for free today !

Deleting notes in PowerPoint

Of course, there is also the option of deleting the notes. You can delete them directly on the respective slides or you can delete them all at once. Proceed as follows:

Keyboard shortcuts for notes in PowerPoint

How can I add notes in PowerPoint?

To add notes in PowerPoint, go to "Notes" in the "View" tab or you can also insert notes via the status bar at the bottom right with just one click.

How do I print notes in PowerPoint?

Go to "Print" in the "File" tab. Then select "Notes pages" in the print layout instead of "Full page slides".

How can I use the notes in PowerPoint during my presentation?

In order to see your PowerPoint notes during your presentation, you must check the box "Use Presenter View" in the tab "Slide Show" beforehand. They will then be displayed automatically during your presentation.

Related articles

About the author.

Miriam Rapberger

Miriam supports SlideLizard in the area of marketing and design. There she uses her creativity for blog posts, among other things.

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How to Print a PowerPoint Presentation With Notes

How many times have you walked away from a great presentation and wished you had the notes from the slide deck? Or are you a presenter that wants to provide slides and notes in a handout format for the audience or for you to uses as a reference while speaking?

Printing a PowerPoint presentation with notes attached can be a valuable tool for presenters at all levels. You can physically print and distribute presentations with notes or “print” them to a PDF for easy digital sharing.

Here’s how you do it.

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Create Notes in Your PowerPoint

The first step toward printing notes from a PowerPoint presentation is to include notes in the proper location.

Open your file and click the Notes button in the bottom toolbar to show the notes field if it is not open. Then just type your notes in the area provided. Click and drag the line above the notes area to expand or collapse the amount of space available.

If you plan to print notes and hand them out, take care with the information you type in. Make sure to use proper spelling, grammar, and citations. Don’t put anything in the notes that should not be public information.

You can use formatting in the notes area, just like any other part of the slide. This includes bulleted and numbered lists or formatting such as bold or italics.

Save your presentation before printing.

Print the Presentation with Notes

There are two view options for printing PowerPoint presentations with notes:

• Full page, with one slide and preprinted notes per page
• Thumbnail view, with a place to write notes (this does not include your presentation notes)

Once you know what format you want to use and your presentation is ready, go to the File tab and click Print.

To print a PowerPoint presentation with your speaker notes, change the layout to Notes. This option prints one slide per page with notes below it. Set other options, such as number of copies and select color or black and white printing. Then click Print.

To print a PowerPoint presentation with room to write notes, change the layout to Handouts. You can select 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 slides per page. The 3-slides-per-page format is most commonly used because it presents slides that are large enough to see with a lined space for note-taking. Then click Print.

Print PowerPoint Notes Only

You can change the way notes print and remove the default print setting which includes the slide above notes, in the View menu.

Navigate to view and click Notes Page. You can then delete the slide image or make any other design adjustments you want. You have to do this for each slide. If you want to change the notes design for all slides, make changes in the Notes Master. Then save and follow print using the Notes layout.

”Print” PowerPoint Presentation to PDF

Rather than printing a PowerPoint on paper, you can “print” or save the notes as a PDF.

Go to the File tab and click Print. Choose your layout (Notes or Handouts). Select Save as PDF.

That’s it. Now you have all the tools you need to print a PowerPoint presentation with notes.

Don’t forget to take a look at our full PowerPoint templates guide , or our collection of the best PowerPoint templates for your next project!

Print your handouts, notes, or slides

Whether you want to print handouts, notes pages, or slides, you’ve come to the right place.

(If you're looking for handout design information, such as how to set up slide layouts and orientation or how to change your headers, footers, or background, see Create or change a presentation’s handout .)

Figure: The "3 Slides" layout for handouts includes lines for taking notes. 

Select a printer

On the File tab, click Print .

Under Printer , click the down arrow and select a printer from the list.

If you don’t see any network printers listed:    You’ll need to add one, as follows:

Windows 10:

Windows 7 or 8:

Open Control Panel. Select Hardware and Sound > Add a printer > Add a network, wireless or bluetooth printer > Next

If you don't have a network or wireless printer to connect to:     You’ll want to make sure your printer is plugged in to your computer. See your printer’s documentation for details.

Select what and how to print

Under Settings , between four and six rectangles with down arrows appear, depending on the kind of printer you selected in the procedure above. These rectangles give you printing options. 

Choose which slides you want to print:  Under Settings , click the first rectangle's down arrow and choose an option:

If you choose Custom Range , then enter the specific slides or range of slides in the Slides box. For example, 1,3,5-12 .

If you have any hidden slides in the presentation, the Print Hidden Slides option is active, and you may select it.

Choose a print layout:  Under Settings , click the second rectangle's down arrow. The thumbnail images you see show a preview of how the pages will look when printed.

To print slide notes, either for a speaker or as handouts for your audience, select Notes Pages under Print Layout . This option prints one slide per page with all your notes below.

Choose how to organize your printed sheets:  Under Settings , select the down arrow next to Collated or Uncollated and then choose your preference.  

Choose a color scheme for your printout:  Under Settings , click the last rectangle's down arrow, and then select an option.

Tips for printing in color, grayscale, or pure black and white:

Under Settings , if your printer is able, two other options will appear—one-sided versus two-sided printing, and stapled versus unstapled sets of printouts. 

The options for stapled and unstapled vary by printer. 

In the Copies box at the top, enter the number of copies you want, and then click Print .

Printed handouts: Add or remove slide numbering

By default, in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 (beginning with version 1810), printed handouts include a slide number below each slide image.

You can turn this option off for this presentation by going to File  >  Print . Select the drop down arrow next to the handouts layout you've selected and clear the option named Print slide numbers on handouts .

Print Preview

See  Printing and print preview for information about preview features.  

Troubleshooting

If you've having trouble being able to print, see My Print button and some printer settings aren’t available . 

For more information about printing in PowerPoint, check out the following:

Create or change a presentation’s handout

Print slides with or without speaker notes

Edit or print PowerPoint handouts in Word

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How to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint

What type of content do you primarily create?

Recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint can be challenging, especially getting the technical aspects right. You need to capture your screen, webcam, and audio seamlessly while delivering your content naturally and avoiding awkward transitions between slides.

Finding a tool that integrates all these components can seem daunting. However, recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint doesn't have to be reserved for the tech-savvy or professional speakers.

Whether you're a teacher creating online lessons, a marketer producing a product demo, or someone looking to improve their presentation skills, this guide will walk you through user-friendly tools and strategies that will teach you how to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint.

• Recording yourself presenting a PowerPoint can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be reserved for experts.
• Video recording offers unlimited reach, repurposing opportunities, and a more engaging experience.
• Use PowerPoint's built-in recording feature or tools like Descript for a polished presentation.
• Other tools like Zoom, Loom, OBS Studio, Clipchamp, and Quick Time Player can also be used for recording.
• Tips include practicing your script, using slide notes, ensuring high-quality audio and lighting, and incorporating storytelling techniques.

Why video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint? 

Video recording your PowerPoint presentations offers several advantages:

• Unlimited reach : Unlike in-person presentations confined to a specific time and location, recorded videos allow your message to reach audiences globally at their convenience.
• Repurposing opportunities: Recorded presentations can be repurposed as evergreen content across multiple platforms, such as social media, online courses, webinars, and internal training materials, maximizing their value.
• Personal and engaging : Recording yourself narrating a presentation adds a personal touch and dynamic element that static slides alone cannot replicate. Your viewers can see and hear you deliver the content, creating a more immersive and engaging experience.

How to record your presentation with the PowerPoint app

Built-in recording feature in powerpoint.

1. Open the PowerPoint slide you want to record. 

2. Click on the Record tab of the top toolbar.

3. Click on the Record button and choose from any of the following options:

• From Current Slide
• From Beginning

4. You'll see the PowerPoint screen recording window.

5. Select the microphone and camera from the icon on the top-right.

6. Click the Stop and Replay buttons to end or replay your recording.

7. To export your presentation's recording, click Export to Video within the Recording tab.

Benefits : Easy to use, no external tools needed

Limitations : Limited editing capabilities.

How to make a more polished recording of your presentation with Descript 

While PowerPoint's built-in recording features are helpful, they may not produce the refined result you want for your presentation. That's where Descript comes in handy. 

It’s a whole production studio at your fingertips, with video recording, transcription, and editing capabilities, ready to transform dull PowerPoint slides into an engaging experience for your audience. Descript also has a built-in screen recorder.

You can use Descript on Windows, Mac, or even straight from your web browser. 

Here's step-by-step guide to recording your PowerPoint presentation with Descript.

Set up your screen recording

1. Install and open Descript. At the top of the editor, click and open the Record panel. 

2. Select Screen.

3. Set Recorder settings:

Adjust the default recording settings to your liking, including the transcription language, the maximum recording resolution, and more. 

4. Set recording options. Choose which audio and video sources to record (e.g., microphone, computer audio, camera). Remember to turn the camera on to capture your talking head video alongside your PowerPoint presentation.

5. Click the Additional Settings icon for

• Studio Sound (Optional): Enhance audio quality with noise reduction and background removal
• Transcription (Optional): Enable automatic transcription for easier editing
• Recording separate audio tracks

6. Add (optional) Speaker labels for each audio track (e.g., "Narrator," "Expert") by typing them in the text box next to your audio inputs. 

Capture your screen recording

1. Select the right recording option:

• Recording into script : Choose this if you haven’t recorded anything yet.
• Replace selection : Choose this if you already have a script and want to replace a specific section with a new recording.
• Record new layer : Pick this for recording your video as a new layer on top of an existing recording.

2. Click Record at the bottom of the Record panel.

3. Drag over the area of your screen you wish to record. Click Start Recording. Press Space to start recording the full screen.

4. Click Stop to finish recording

Bonus: Descript creates separate tracks for camera, microphone, and computer audio. You can edit each track individually for more precise control.

• Do a short test recording to ensure everything is set up correctly.
• Set your recording to transibe for easier editing.

Editing and polishing your PowerPoint recording in Descript

Descript's AI video editing tool makes it a breeze to trim, cut, and splice your video footage, ensuring a seamless flow from start to finish. You can add smooth transitions and other visual effects to make your presentation pop.

Here’s a glimpse of how to edit and polish your PowerPoint recording in Descript:

Edit your recording like a doc

Did you make a mistake during a slide transition? No problem. Just delete those sections in the text transcript (created automatically by Descript) and the video will adjust to match.

Remove filler words

Sound smoother and more confident by easily removing filler words like "um" and "uh" from the transcript.

Fix voiceover mistakes by typing

Didn't nail your delivery on a specific slide? No need to start from scratch! Descript's Overdub feature lets you simply type in the correct narration and replace the audio on that slide with AI voice cloning.

Boost video quality and engagement : 

• Crisp up audio quality by reducing background noise and room reverb with the AI-powered Studio Sound feature.
• ‎Replace your background completely with the Green Screen Video Editor —look like you're presenting in a sleek studio or broadcasting from a beach.
• Enable Eye Contact simulation with AI, so it appears you're making direct eye contact with viewers, even if you’re looking or reading something off-camera.

Other ways to video record yourself presenting a PowerPoint 

Use Zoom’s meeting recording feature to record yourself giving a PowerPoint presentation. Start a Zoom meeting with yourself, share your PowerPoint window, and enable recording

Loom is a handy screen recording tool that also offers a webcam overlay. Launch the Loom app or Chrome extension and set it to record your screen and webcam. Expect high-quality recordings but no advanced editing features. The free plan offers only five minutes of recording at a stretch.

3. OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a free, open-source screen recorder/streaming software with a steeper learning curve. It’s popular among advanced or tech-savvy users who need granular customization and control.

To record your presentation, add a "Screen Capture" source to capture your PowerPoint window and a "Video Capture Device" source for your webcam. 

4. Clipchamp: Recording natively in Windows

You can use Microsoft’s Clipchamp , the built-in screen recorder and video editor for Windows, to simultaneously capture your computer screen, webcam, and audio for recording your PowerPoint presentation. It’s also available as a browser-based app. You can record up to 30 minutes on screen and webcam recordings.

Users can also adjust the screen and webcam recordings in the editing timeline separately. 

5. Quick Time Player Recording natively in Mac

Use Mac’s Quick Time Player to record your PowerPoint presentation. It’s not as straightforward as the other options on this list, so here’s a quick guide to help you out:

• Launch Quick Time Player.
• Select File and go to New Movie Recording.
• You'll be recording your entire screen in addition to recording your face, so adjust the size and location of the recording window so that it's in a nonintrusive corner of your PowerPoint.
• Go to View and select Float on Top .
• Next, go to File and select New Screen Recording.
• On the menu that appears, select Record Selected Portion and drag a border around your PowerPoint and the webcam recording window.
• Press Record and start presenting.
• You can adjust the video quality and the audio source in the webcam recording window.

How to turn your PowerPoint presentation slides into a video 

Did you know PowerPoint lets you save your presentation as a video, too? 

Here's a breakdown of the two ways you can do so—keeping all the presentation elements (narration, animation, pointer movements, timings, and so on) intact in the presentation itself.  

Save your PowerPoint presentation as a video

This creates a separate video file (MP4 or WMV) that anyone can play, even without PowerPoint. 

Follow these steps:

• Save your presentation
• Go to File > Export > Create a Video
• Ultra HD (4K): Best for large screens (if you have Windows 10+)
• Full HD (1080p): Great for computers and TVs
• HD (720p): Good for streaming online or on DVDs
• Standard (480p): Smallest size, good for phones

4. Decide on narration

• If you haven't recorded yourself talking, choose "Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations" from the dropdown menu
• If you have a recording, choose "Use Recorded Timings and Narrations." You can also set how long each slide shows for (default is 5 seconds)

5. Click Create Video

6. Name your video, pick a folder to save it in, and choose a file type (MPEG-4 or Windows Media Video)

Creating the video might take a while, especially for longer presentations. You can even leave it running overnight. Once done, find your video in the chosen folder and double-click to play it.

Save your PowerPoint presentation as a slideshow

This saves your presentation as a special file (PPSX) that starts playing automatically on full screen when opened. It only works with PowerPoint.

Here’s how it works:

• Make sure your presentation is saved (regular PowerPoint file)
• Go to File > Save As .
• Pick a folder to save the slideshow in.
• Under Save as type, choose PowerPoint Show (*.ppsx) .
• Click Save .

Now when someone opens the file, it will automatically play the slideshow.

Pro tips for making better video PowerPoint presentations 

Practice your script.

Recording a flawless PowerPoint video rarely happens in one take. The key is practice.

Record practice run-throughs and watch them back. Make notes on areas that need improvement or parts lacking clarity. The more you drill your script, the more confident and natural you'll sound in the final recording.

Take advantage of PowerPoint's built-in Speaker Coach . The feature shows you whether your pace is too fast or slow, your use of filler words like "um," and suggestions to improve your voice modulation.

Use slide notes for coherent delivery

Wouldn’t a personal teleprompter make presentations so much easier? That’s what slide notes are for.

Having your thoughts and talking points organized within your PowerPoint file lets you have all crucial information and prompts readily available when recording.

Go ahead and add detailed notes or even a full script for each slide. This will help you stay on track and provide a handy transcript reference if you need to do any editing or voiceover work in post-production.

Use high-quality audio equipment or turn on Studio Sound

Poor audio recording quality is a surefire way to make even the most visually polished video feel amateurish. Do your presentation justice by investing in a decent external or Bluetooth microphone and audio interface to capture clear voiceover audio.

If you must use a built-in mic, record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise pickup. Or better yet, pair up with an AI-powered audio enhancement tool like Descript's Studio Sound , which reduces background noise , reverb, and other artifacts.

Ensure a clean background and even lighting

Ditch cluttered backgrounds. You want people to focus on the content of your PowerPoint and not be distracted by the funny shapes and colors in your video. 

Your video lighting and framing matters, too. Position yourself facing a natural light source or bring supplemental video lighting to eliminate weird shadows and squinting-level glare.

Look directly into the camera or turn on Eye Contact

Looking directly into the camera is essential to create a sense of connection with the audience. Position your webcam or camera at eye level and imagine you're talking to a friend. If you're using Descript, enable the Eye Contact feature to auto-adjust your gaze towards the camera.

• Dress professionally and maintain a good posture to project confidence and authority.
• Use visuals, animations, and multimedia elements to enhance your presentation and keep your audience engaged.
• Consider adding closed captions or subtitles to your video for better accessibility and engagement, especially for those watching without sound.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, using vocal variety to emphasize key points and maintain interest.
• Incorporate storytelling techniques, real-life examples, or personal anecdotes to make your video presentation more relatable and memorable .

Take your PowerPoint presentations from amateur to amazing 

Recording yourself virtually presenting a PowerPoint allows you to distribute your message using the most engaging type of content: video. And there are many screen recording tools out there that can capture your screen and web camera footage with just a few clicks. 

But how do you stand out?

By focusing on the presentation's depth, your delivery, and the video's quality. The first two are the bare minimum to communicate your message effectively. 

But the right screen capture software and all-in-one video creation tool like Descript can help you with third. Use the tool to improve the quality of your recorded PPT presentations. 

With Descript, it's easier than ever to record your screen, polish up the audio, and create stunning visuals all in one place. So why wait? 

Sign up for Descript today and simplify your workflow while creating a PowerPoint presentation video that sticks with your audience in the long term.

How do you make a presentation video with your face?

To create a presentation video with your face, follow these steps:

• Open your presentation in PowerPoint.
• Go to the Slide Show tab.
• Click on Record and choose From Current Slide or From Beginning .
• Choose your microphone and camera by clicking on a sound icon on the top-right.
• Start recording by clicking on the record button.
• Speak into your microphone to narrate the presentation.
• Your webcam will capture your face during the recording.
• Click Stop when you finish recording.
• Export your recorded presentation by clicking on File> Export>Create a video.

How do you present yourself in PowerPoint?

To present yourself effectively in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

• Determine the key information to include in your presentation.
• Design and prepare your PowerPoint slides with a cohesive theme.
• Craft a compelling introduction to engage your audience.
• Tailor your presentation to different time constraints for flexibility.
• Capture the audience's attention before you begin speaking.

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Google Slides

How to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides?

Table of Contents

Speaker notes in Google Slides can be a valuable tool for improving your presentations. They provide a way to add helpful reminders and extra details that you don’t necessarily want to include on the slides themselves. These notes act like a personal guide, staying hidden from the audience while giving you easy access during your presentation.

By using speaker notes, you can avoid memorizing everything or relying on cue cards. They act as prompts to keep you on track and ensure smooth delivery. Whether you’re giving a class presentation, working on a project presentation, or preparing for an important event, mastering speaker notes in Google Slides can help you deliver your message effectively.

• Open your Google Slides presentation.
• Locate the speaker notes area . It’s usually a text box at the bottom of your screen that says “Click to add speaker notes.”
• Show speaker notes if hidden . If you don’t see the text box, go to the “View” menu and select “Show Speaker Notes.”
• Start typing your notes . Click on the text box and begin adding your reminders and talking points for each slide.
• Remember, only you see the notes . During your presentation, the speaker’s notes will be visible only on your screen, not to the audience.
• Click away to save . When you’re done adding notes for a slide, simply click outside the text box to save them.

Create presentation slides with AI in Seconds in Google Slides

10M+ Installs

Works with Google Slides

How To Use Presenter View With Speaker Notes?

• Launch Presenter View : Locate the “Slideshow” button in the toolbar. Click the dropdown arrow next to it and choose “Presenter View.”
• Dual-Screen View : A new window will appear alongside your presentation. This window displays your speaker notes, a timer, thumbnails of the previous and next slides, zoom options, and audience tools.
• Focus on Your Notes : Use this dedicated window to refer to your speaker notes while you present.
• Navigate Slides :  Control the presentation flow from the main browser window, where your audience sees the slides.

How To Print Your Slides with Speaker Notes?

• Open your Google Slides presentation . Locate and open the presentation you want to print.
• Access the Print Preview : Navigate to the “File” menu and select “Print preview.” Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac).
• Choose ‘1 Slide with Notes’ :  In the print preview window, under “Layout,” look for the “Print layout” dropdown menu. Select “1 slide with notes” from this menu. This will ensure your slides print alongside your speaker notes.
• Customize Print Settings (Optional) :  This window allows you to adjust additional settings like paper orientation (portrait or landscape), paper size, and color mode (color or black and white) to fit your needs.
• Print Your Slides : Once you’re happy with the preview and settings, click the “Print” button to print your slides with speaker notes.

Also Read : How to Print Google Slides with Notes?

Closing Thoughts

Speaker notes are a game-changer for Google Slides presentations. They empower you to deliver confident and informative talks by keeping you on track and providing valuable details at your fingertips. With the ease of adding, viewing, and printing speaker notes, you can focus on connecting with your audience and leaving a lasting impression. So, adopt the power of speaker notes and take your presentations to the next level!

• No design skills required
• 3 presentations/month free
• Don’t need to learn a new software

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the audience see the speaker notes.

No, the speaker notes are private to you, the presenter. Only you will see them during your presentation, while the audience focuses on the slides themselves.

Can I edit my speaker notes?

Absolutely! You can edit and modify your speaker notes at any time. This lets you ensure you have all the critical points you want to cover during your presentation.

What’s the advantage of adding speaker notes?

Speaker notes act as a helpful guide during your presentation. They jog your memory on key points and help you avoid missing any important information.

How do I add speaker notes in Google Slides?

Click on the designated area at the bottom of your slide that says “Click to add speaker notes.” Here you can type in all your talking points and reminders.

Can people editing my presentation see the speaker notes?

No, speaker notes are private and only visible in the presenter view. They won’t be shown to anyone editing the presentation itself.

How do I activate speaker notes on the Google Slides app?

On the app, go to the “View” menu and select “Presenter Notes.” This will display the speaker notes section below your slide.

Save Time and Effortlessly Create Presentations with SlidesAI

How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.

Quick Links

• Add a QR code
• Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
• Embed a Live Web Page
• Add Links and Menus
• Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
• Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.